Kejriwal supporters halted on way to Dikshit's house

Aam Admi Party (AAP) volunteers were stopped on Monday as they headed to Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit's house to deliver lakhs of letters protesting allegedly inflated water and power bills.

Police stopped a total of slow-moving 272 autorickshaws carrying AAP volunters, with Arvind Kejriwal supporters walking alongside. Many of them carried Indian national flags and shouted anti-government slogans.

The unique protest began from Sundar Nagri area where AAP founder leader Kejriwal's indefinite hunger strike against the allegedly inflated utility bills entered the 10th day Monday.

Kejriwal was not part of the protest march to Dikshit's house.

AAP spokesperson Aswathi Muralidharan told IANS that the 272 autorickshaws represented the 272 municipal wards in Delhi. "Delhi Police stopped us on Bhairon Marg near Pragati Maidan. They said they cannot allow so many auto-rickshaws and people to go to the chief minister's residence. Police said they would arrange four buses to ferry representatives who will hand over the letters to Dikshit," AAP spokesperson Aswathi Muralidharan told IANS.

She said around six lakh residents of the capital had signed the protest letters.

The protest journey began despite Delhi Police's refusal to allow too many autorickshaws to hit the roads.

"They failed to explain under which law they were prohibiting the autos," Muralidharan said earlier. "If we are stopped, we will protest."

Kejriwal's health is reportedly stable. Doctors said he had lost seven kgs since he began his fast on March 23.